5 Best Bars in Josefov (Jewish Quarter), Prague

A steel-and-glass, lights-in-the-bar design gives this popular American-style cocktail bar a modern look, and the bartenders, in bow ties and suspenders, lend a classic touch. The drinks menu has all the expected favorites, and sometimes there's live music. Check out the curio rack showing off one of the last Bacardi rum bottles from pre-Castro Cuba.

One of a gaggle of swanky cocktail bars that have recently taken Prague by storm, L'Fleur mixes it with the best of them, blending old-school elegance—although arguably the decoration feels a little generic—and classic cocktails with local flavors (try the Parfum for a hit of traditional Czech spirit Becherovka). The menu contains some unusual ingredients—so much so that it can be a bit incomprehensible—but friendly staff are happy to explain.

With a cooler, more modern and stripped-back cocktail bar vibe than some of the others in this quarter, Public Interest has one of those drinks lists where everything is tempting, although Heroes is our current favorite (gin, grapefruit, lemongrass, and Prosecco—what's not to like?). It also serves good coffee if you are looking for a slightly less decadent after-dinner drink.

The lost elegance of the 1930s, with clean lines on dark wood, is re-created in a bar that serves Manhattans, martinis, and other classic cocktails, sometimes with live jazz in the background. This was a trendsetter in Prague when it first opened for classic cocktails, and it remains a great joint for a sophisticated tipple, although it can feel a bit sleazy depending on the crowd. Make sure to book in advance on weekends.

Some people claim that the way the beer is tapped here makes it the best in town, which probably explains the constant crowds. This was one of the first places in the world to offer unpasteurized beer from tanks, rather than kegs. And the place still retains its old-fashioned charm, making it one of the best authentic Czech pubs in a heavily touristed area. Groups should make reservations—a free table is rare.